Envelope clasp



Dec. 4, 1923.

' E. SCHINSCHOLL.

-ENVELOPE CLASP Filed Aug. 31.- 1922 Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

Laatse Enron scniivsonom., or` CENCINNATI, omo.

ENVELPE CLASP.

Appiicaeii med August 31, 194227; semi Natasha j To 'all whomy t may concern Be it known that I, ERICH SoHiNsorroLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and tate of Chio, have invented certain new `and useful Improvements in Envelope Clasps, of which the following is a specification. l l y Y y t is the object of my invention to provide C a new and improved envelope clasp whereby an envelope may be readily closed or opened and so constructed that little thickness is added to the envelope at the clasp; further, to provide envelopes with clasps which will not detrimentally interfere with the sliding of the envelopes one upon the other or with the stacking of the same; and further, to provide a clasp for an envelope which is simple in construction, is easily appliedto the envelope, provides a secure closingmeans for the envelope, and is readily released to open the envelope when desired.

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. l represents a plan view of an en# velope, partly broken away, having my improved clasp applied thereto.

F ig. 2 is an enlarged view of my improved device. y .y S

Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of thesame.

Fig. t is a central longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

F ig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch member of my improved device; and

F ig. 6 is a perspective view of the keeper member of my improved device.

The envelope is indicated at 1l. It is shown partly broken away; It may be of any suitable size, shape and material. It comprises a body 12 and a flap 13. It may be formed out of a single piece of paper, and have a middle lap lll, the edges of the blank out of which the envelope is formed being lapped and pasted to form the lap 14.

The clasp is exemplified as comprising a vlatch member 16 and a keeper member 17.

Each of these members is formed out of a thin sheet plate, preferably of metal.

The latch member is formed with a suit.- able head 21 from which attaching prongs 22 extend, the prongs piercing the material of the flap 13 and preferably also piercing a reinforce piece 23 of .papery pastedtothek flap. .The prongsarebent toward the head forclamping the material of theiap and the `reinforce piece between the rear face Vvof said headA and the prongs. A, shankl 21extends from the head. A tongue 25 extends from the shank. Shoulders 2G are formed at the base of the tongue.

The outer end of the tonguehasa'retaining lug 28V formed uptherein, vprefer,- ably by striking down the metal of said ,lug

from the body of said tongue with asharp` edge 29 to form a shoulder presented toward the base of the tongue and providing the outer end of the lug with a Vslanting face 30 upon which the end of the tongue readily rides on thekeeper member when closing the envelope.. The tongue is preferably somewhat resilient.'

The keeper member is formed with attaching prongs 311, they prongs piercing the lap 141-, and being bent toward the body vof.. the keeper -inember for clamping the material of said lap between the prongs and said body.

The body of the keeper member has' a cross-web 33 formed up therefro'nn which is preferably raised labove the upper or tongue-contacting surface of said body a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the tongue, sopas to hold the tongue toward the keeper member when the tongue is inserted under said cross-web'. Y

The keeper member is provided with slots 35, at the respectivesides of the cross- 1 web, the tonguebeing received through said slots. y Theseslots are preferably enlarged into the form. of openings to permit `the ready passingof the free end of the tongue having' the retaining lug. thereon through said slots and under said cross-web and past theV outer wall 36 of the slot 35, the slanting face 30 ofthe retaining lug aidingin said closing movement of the tongue.

l/Vhen the clasp isclosed the shoulders engage the outer upturned ends of the crossweb and the shoulder 29 of the retaining lug engages the lower edge 36 of the keeper member for holding the clasp in clasped relation, theftongue being slightly resilient and the cross-web 33 holding the tongue toward the keeper member. The shoulders 26l limit the inward movement of the tongue lVhen the shoulders 26 engage the cross-web, the 'flap 13 will be parallel witlithebody of necessary to raise the outer end of the tongue lto release the retaining lug, whereupon the tongue may be readily slipped endwise out Y of the keeper member. The release of the tongue may be readily effected for instance by engagement of the cross-web by the naily of the first inger and the' engagement of the outer edge of the tongue by the thumb-l nail, andthe 'pressing Vof said nails 'toward each other.

My improved deviceis economically made and provides means whereby the envelope may be repeatedly closed and opened or repeatedly used.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: l

Y l. An envelope clasp comprising a latch member and a keeper member, said latch l member Vcomprising a tongue, said keeper member comprising a thin sheet plate hav-v ing a cross-web struck up therefrom to form a slot at each sideot said cross-web, said tongue received upon said plate through said slots, said cross-web raised above the tongue-contacting surface said plate substantially the thickness ot saidtongue to hold said tongue toward said plate, said tongue provided with an inwardly bent retaining lug, said plate provided with a shoulder contacted by said retaining Vlug,

and said retaining lug and said shoulder die tanced from said cross-web a distance to permit flexing of said tongue away from said plate to release said retaining lug rom said shoulder, and means whereby 'to fix said members respectively Vto the 'flap and the body of an envelope.

2. An envelope clasp comprising av latch member and a keeper member, said latch member `comprising a thin sheet plate formed with a ,tongue and a pair olshoulders atthe base of said tongue, said tongue provided with an Vinwardly bent retaining lug at its outer end, said keeper member comprising a thin sheet plate having a crossweb struck up therefrom Yto form a 'slot at each side of said cross-web, saidtongue received upon said second-named plate through said slots with said shoulders contacting a wall of one lot said slots Vand said retaining vlug contacting an edge ot said` keeper member dis'tancedV from said cross-web to permit flexing of said tongue away :trom said keeper member to release said retaining lug from said edge, and said cross-web raised above the tongue-contacting surface of said second-named plate substantially the thickness of said tongue to hold said tongue toward said second-named plate, and means whereby to fix said members respectively to the iiap and the body ot' an envelope.

3. An envelope clasp comprisinga latch member and a keeper` member, saidrlatchv member comprising a thin sheet plate 'formed with a tongue at one end and `with attaching prongs at its otherend, said. keep-V er member comprising a thin sheet plate having a cross-web struck up therefrom beyond one 'face of said second-named plate.

to torni a slot at each side of' said Cross-web and having `attaching prongs struck up therefrom at its other tace, said tongueqreceived through said slots, the outer end ot saidqtongue and said second-named.plate provided with a retaining lug and an edge coacting therewith distanced from 'said cross-web to permit iCleXingv of the outer end of said tongue away from said second-named plate to releasably latch said tongue and sail second-named plate together, and said members li'Xed by. means of said prongs respectively to the flap and the body ofan envelope.

l'n testimony whereof, I have hereunto'.

signed my namein the presence oit two'subscribing witnesses.` Y Y ERICH SCHNSCHOLL.

lVitnes'ses:

.losnrir LEMKUHL, DELMA WnRNsiNe.

soY 

